Violence against veterinary professionals is no longer an isolated phenomenon. A stark reminder came in the night of 22 January, when the car of a public health veterinarian was deliberately set on fire in Jerzu, Sardinia. Italy’s statutory body FNOVI condemned the attack as an assault not only on an individual, but on ‘a safeguard of legality, public health and territorial protection,’ and called for decisive institutional action to ensure the safety of professionals in sensitive contexts.
A widespread and multifaceted problem
Beyond extreme physical and material cases, many veterinary professionals report frequent verbal abuse, threats and pressure during clinical or official duties — from frustrated clients to challenges around compulsory controls. The 2024 ONSEPS report by the National Observatory on the Safety of Health and Social Care Professions shows violence against health professionals, including veterinarians, is far from rare and encompasses verbal and physical aggression.
The growing threat of online abuse
Alongside in-person incidents, online abuse is rising. Defamatory social media posts, coordinated attacks, cyberstalking and defamatory reviews now add a persistent layer of digital risk. In response, the Italian veterinary bodies ANMVI, FNOVI and SIVeMP sent a joint letter to the Italian Ministry of Health ‘with alarm and concern,’ calling for stronger measures to prevent and counter hate speech against veterinarians and easier removal of abusive online content.
Awareness, reporting and prevention
The representative bodies further invited ONSEPS to include this issue in a broader awareness strategy, proposing it as a theme for the National Day of Education and Prevention of Violence to Health Workers, held annually on 12 March. Ongoing data collection by ONSEPS and a forthcoming FNOVI questionnaire dedicated to digital violence are essential tools to better understand the phenomenon. In 2023, FNOVI held this awareness campaign on violence against vets (see image).
(Image ©FNOVI)